Kansas rescue equipment in Iraq

[brettdale]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WEATHER/05/07/severe.weather/index.html

GREENSBURG, Kansas (CNN) -- Federal officials arrived Monday in ravaged Greensburg to survey the damage caused by the weekend's tornado-packed storms.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius expressed concern that rescue and recovery efforts were being strained because much of the needed equipment has been sent to Iraq.

"When the troops get deployed, the equipment goes with them. So here in Kansas about 50 percent of our trucks are gone. We need trucks. We are missing Humvees, we're missing all kinds of equipment that could help us respond in this kind of emergency," she said.

[uppityperson]

1. k&r, bring them home now

[Monkeyman]

2. Its Not only Kansas its all the States with NG troops in Iraq

[Sonicmedusa]

3. Shades of Katrina - Rethugs on my local board blaming local gov

And I quote:

"Didn't take long for the democrat gov. of Kansas to use catastrophic tragedy to make political hay. Tornadoes are not new to Kansas and there's been years to prepare for this contingency. There's plenty of heavy equipment in Kansas to do the job, it's just that the State of Kansas has to get off it's ass and pay people to do it then figure out how to get Federal reimbursement later-- but that wouldn't allow for political posturing. There has been plenty of time for the State to develop alternative resources/ contingency plans. Military equipment is for military use."

Why can't they see the BIG picture???

[Erika]

7. Because they are uninformed fools

who like it that way. You'll be hearing the GOP governors on this issue also.

[ObamaNationYes]

4. I agree that this is terrible and shameful

that we cannot look after our own at home because of this war, but right now I care most about helping these folks. Every state has some resources and right now, while they are not in use, won't those resources (equipment etc...) be sent to KS ASAP? I live in NC AND in SC and am very used to hurricane damage, but immediately Florida and Georgia resources are on their way here and vice versa after a devasting storm. Surely this happens in the heartland, right??/

[Erika]

8. Our Idaho GOP governor is scared about a bad fire season

No way do we have the NG or the equipment to handle it. They've been siphoned off to Iraq.

[JVS]

5. NG out of Iraq

[Erika]

6. Same with Idaho. The Guard troops leave the equipment in Iraq

by military order.

[dogday]

15. Exactly, so whether the troops are there

or not, the much needed equipment is still in Iraq....

[Screwfly]

9. What next?

I wonder what the hell they'll have the National Guard if a really big catastrophe happens like an 8.x earthquake in California or something...Have 'em pillage the equipment and supplies they need on their way to a disaster area a Napoleonic army in the 19th century?

[brettdale]

10. What happens if there is a terrorist attack in the USA

And the majority of the military is suck in Iraq?????

[Erika]

11. Well, I guess the Iraqis will have better protection than we do

The irony.

[Breeze54]

12. We always miss the ones we 'love'.

:sarcasm:

Oh, what are they gonna do
When the lights go down
Without you to guide them all to Zion?
What are they gonna do when the rivers overrun
Other than tremble incessantly?

http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Tool/10-000-Days-wings-Pt-2.html

:grr:

[Disturbed]

13. Isn't the State Natl Guard spozed to be for the state?

:shrug:

[Melissa G]

14. Oh look, Toto! We need to Buy More Equipment from defense contractors!

:sarcasm: and it's not just in Kansas...

[tjwash]

16. Have the freeptards been screaming "why the hell didn't those dumbasses just leave" yet?

Or was that reserved by them specifically for people in New Orleans?